Warmbold joins list for Red Bull drive?

Antony Warmbold is the latest driver to be linked to the Red Bull Skoda team, who have yet to announce who will partner Andreas Aigner on the gravel events they will contest this year.

According to reports by rallye-magazin.de, Warmbold has began talks with Red Bull after his plans to run in a Peugeot 307 WRC fell through.

It is thought that the deal will include a drive on five WRC events - namely those in Italy, Greece, Cyprus, Turkey and Britain, and possibly Germany as well, although it is assumed Gilles Panizzi will get to drive the second Fabia there as it is an asphalt event.

Warmbold, who took part in all 16 events last season, running in an M-Sport entered Ford Focus, has yet to do any WRC events this year.

The German faces stiff competition though, with several drivers rumoured to be in talks with the Red Bull, including former Mitsubishi work driver, Gigi Galli. Galli however is backed by Pirelli, and as Red Bull run on BFGoodrich tyres this may prove his downfall, the key factory though will be whether or not the Austrian team wants to appeal to the German or Italian markets.

Other drivers said to be possibilities include Harri Rovanpera, who was Galli's team-mate at Mitsubishi last year and Rally Australia winner, Francois Duval.

The Rally-Italia Sardinia though doesn't take place until mid-May, something that gives the team plenty of time to come to a decision.